Rafael Nadal will compete at 2024 Australian Open says tournament CEO Craig Tiley - 'Rafa will be back'
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Updated 11/10/2023 at 16:01 GMT
Rafael Nadal hasn't made a competitive appearance since the 2023 Australian Open when he suffered a shock second-round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald. The 37-year-old subsequently underwent hip surgery and missed the remaining Grand Slams this year. However, tournament CEO Craig Tiley has announced the Spaniard will return at the 2024 Australian Open in January, saying: "Rafa will be back".
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Rafael Nadal will make his long-awaited return to tennis at the 2024 Australian Open, according to tournament CEO Craig Tiley.
The 37-year-old’s last competitive outing came at the 2023 edition of the tournament, when he suffered a shock second-round exit at the hands of Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal picked up a hip injury in a straight-sets defeat to the American. The Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the French Open in June and subsequently underwent hip surgery.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner has dropped out of the ATP Tour’s top 100 for the first time since 2003 due to his lack of playing time.
He could only sit back and watch as Novak Djokovic claimed the men's record for the most Grand Slam singles titles, 24, after the current world No. 1 won the Australian Open, French Open and US Open this season.
"We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be back," Tiley told Nine Network's 'The Today Show'.
"He's been off for most of the year, and in talking to him over the last few days, he confirmed he will be back, which we're really excited about, the champion of 2022. That's awesome."
The Spaniard previously hinted that 2024 could be his final competitive season on the ATP Tour circuit.
Nadal responded to Tiley's comments by saying on X: "I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open.
"I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap."
Nadal's representative, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, told Reuters that there was nothing to announce yet on the Spaniard's upcoming schedule.
Meanwhile, Tiley also hinted that Nick Kyrgios could return for his home tournament after an injury-plagued year.
Kyrgios missed all four Grand Slams in 2023 due to various injuries, beginning with a knee injury which kept him out of the Australian Open in January. The Australian withdrew from the US Open due to a wrist problem that also kept him out of Wimbledon. A foot problem stopped him from competing at the French Open.
"We know Nick's been in training, wanting to return as well. So we expect to see him back," he added.
The 2024 Australian Open would also welcome back Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki, Tiley suggested.
He said: "We'll welcome them - and their families - back to Melbourne with open arms and can't wait to see what their next chapter brings."
The Australian Open will run for 15 days for the first time in its history in 2024.
The first Grand Slam of the year will now begin on a Sunday, to make room for an extra day on the schedule.
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